Delight for Harris as Hatters hammer Pools

Mike Simmonds

Hatters assistant boss Terry Harris couldn’t hide his delight after Hatters romped to their biggest away win of the season by beating Hartlepool 4-1 yesterday.

A brace from Jack Marriott, on as a first-half sub for the injured Craig Mackail-Smith, plus another goal for Jonathan Smith and Olly Lee’s late stunner was enough for Luton to back up the 3-1 triumph at Morecambe on Tuesday night in some style.

“It was a little bit too open for me the game at times, but everyone’s worked their socks off at Morecambe and now here as well.”

Terry Harris

Town have now recorded four wins in a row to climb to 10th as Harris said: “I’m delighted with the result. It’s well documented we’ve travelled a few miles this week, going to Morecambe on Tuesday then going back home and coming up yesterday, so to score seven goals away from home in two games and pick up six points is fantastic.

“It was a little bit too open for me the game at times, but everyone’s worked their socks off at Morecambe and now here as well.

“It was a great day all round. We had some tired legs out there and we knew Hartlepool had a bad time Tuesday and would come out all guns blazing and they did.

“They missed some chances, but we’ve got to be really delighted with outcome of the two games.”

Although Town’s attacking play will grab the headlines once more, as they are now the division’s leading scorers, Harris was quick to praise keeper Mark Tyler, who made a host of stand out saves.

He continued: “The ball retention in our attacking final third wasn’t the best, we kept giving the ball away and Hartlepool kept attacking us on the back of it and to be totally honest, Mark Tyler’s pulled off some good saves.

“He stood up quite a few times and didn’t go down too early so didn’t make the forward’s mind up. I thought he was excellent and has been excellent for a period of time now, so we’re fortunate to have two top class goalkeepers at the moment.”

Meanwhile, after taking 295 fans to Morecambe on Tuesday night, another 406 followed Hatters to Victoria Park, as Harris added: “They’ve been absolutely fantastic, I admire each and every one of them.

“They were noisy on Tuesday at Morecambe and they were noisy again here, so hopefully they’ve gone home happy.”